Blog 12 Premature Deaths in Developing countries

Prematurity is the second most common cause of death for children under age five. Each year 15 million babies are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy, and rates are rising almost everywhere. An estimated 1.1 million premature babies die each year. Most are born just a few weeks early in developing countries, where they die from a lack of simple care. Child health experts from organizations including the World Health Organization, Save the Children and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine looked at what could be done in the 39 most developed countries if four recognized measures were implemented. These interventions are stopping smoking, promoting single pregnancies in IVF treatments, reducing planned Caesarean sections - which are often carried out before due dates. If all these were implemented, the researchers suggest premature birth could be prevented for 58,000 babies.  Research should also focus on preterm birth causes and solutions in low income countries where preterm birth rates are highest and the underlying causes may be much simpler to address.

Developing countries are a main target for this problem, often with the lack of resources to actually have a baby to the 37 week term. But, if simple steps like not smoking, and reducing Caesarean sections could be the difference between a healthy baby and an abnormal baby, why wouldn’t you agree to it? Being able to have a healthy baby should be every mother’s priority, because you lower risk for oncoming diseases and illnesses. Taking control of that situation would not only, help but it would increase the birth rates, and Japan would be a country that would benefit from that. Apart from that, developing countries need to not only, focus on having healthy baby, but healthy relationships as well. If developing countries also became aware of contraception’s and birth control methods that would limit how many children they would have, and they could focus on just having a small nuclear family. Instead of having to take care of many babies and children that often do not make it past 5 years old.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20342108

Alexa Florencio-Picazo
11/16/12

Blog 11 Royal Marines Help Hospital

Not everyone is capable of dealing with the issues of post-traumatic stress however the Royal Marines have their methods of helping them cope. It was developed by the Royal Marines and has been used by a number of police forces and fire services too and helps staff identify the signs of stress and trauma in colleagues and equips them to engage with them, offering support or helping them to access other support services within the health board, if needed. Techniques developed by the Royal Marines on how to deal with stress are being used by hospital staff working in an accident and emergency (A&E) unit. It is part of a year-long pilot scheme at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales (UHW). It comes after 83% of A&E UHW staff said they needed more support to deal with work-related stress and anxiety. Staff will also be trained to spot potential signs of stress and anxiety in colleagues and deal with it appropriately. Staff has had training similar to that used by marines to deal with "mental rigors" of their day to day role. As well as the obvious human and social costs, it is estimated that mental health problems cost the Welsh economy £7.2bn every year, and we encourage all employers to make staff mental health and wellbeing a priority           

Now that this program is out there it will help so many Cardiff hospital staff deal with stress, something they were not able to cope with.  It is creating a culture where people feel confident to talk about their mental health and better inform to support each other can only be a positive thing for individual staff members, patients and the department as a whole. Also, when one is in control of themselves and their emotions they tend to work harder and more efficiently, and that is very critical at a hospital. Apart for that, the money they are spending on stress related problems will slowly decrease and end up benefiting everyone.

Alexa Florencio-Picazo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20225371

Blog 11: Alarm Over India's Dengue Fever Epidemic

An epidemic of dengue fever has swept India; a mosquito-borne tropical disease that is also epidemic in Madeira, Portugal and Puerto Rico and endemic in half of the world's countries. India reported a 59 percent increase in cases from last year, a figure that experts assert is actually in the millions. There has been a massive underreporting of cases which is suspected to be the leading cause of the disease's spread; associated with scant awareness for the disease, poor cleanup of sources for it, and an unsuccessful vaccine  search. The reporting's inadequacy is liable to have stemmed from political leaders aiming to protect their reputations. 80 percent of dengue symptoms are that of mild fatigue, while the remaining 20 percent consist of intense flulike symptoms. Upon the second infection, the disease can become fatal but only 1 percent die from it. The acute phase passes within around two weeks, but fatigue and depression can linger for months. There is also the fear of a sudden shift in the circulating dengue strain that could cause a widespread increase in life-threatening illnesses. Trucks are commonly seen spewing pesticides around areas with standing water in areas such as New Delhi, but it is rapid and disorderly urbanization that continue to proliferate the disease; with a vaccine looking unlikely in the next decade.

The attribution of the spread of dengue fever to urbanization demands investigation in that multiple aspects of urbanization are liable to be responsible for it. Byproducts of urbanization, especially the rapid and disorderly type mentioned above, include hectic schedules, readily available food of all types and exploitation of the land's resources, people and animals. De-urbanization is obviously impossible, but many changes can be made immediately to prevent the spread of dengue without a vaccine and counteract the untidy urbanization that has occurred and transition toward more sustainable cities. More opportunities for exercise can be made available for all regardless of income to prevent the stress that accompanies a hectic schedule, and more emphasis can be placed on the nutrient content of the Indian diet; both of which will aid in preventing the loss of immune system strength that allows for contraction of dengue. Additional cleanup of standing water will also aid greatly in reducing the amount of mosquitoes, combined with instruction for the public to eliminate or protect standing water around their homes. This measure will especially help those who live in slums, as they likely have poor means of protecting themselves from mosquitoes via mosquito nets and air conditioning. In addition to urbanization, globalization also has played a leading role in the spread of dengue fever due to the fact that India's leaders have elected to dismiss the epidemic rather than encourage the quelling of it so as not to appear in the ill favor of other prominent figures in the world. By behaving in the public's best interest, they could have reported the cases for what they truly are and already have commenced measures against dengue fever.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/world/asia/alarm-over-indias-dengue-fever-epidemic.html?pagewanted=all

Blog 10: Recognizing Mental Health as Public Health

The public health agenda of the United States seems to have overlooked mental health in favor of other aspects, with half of the mentally ill population not receiving needed treatment. Human productivity and social interaction has been proven to be linked with mental health, and mental disorders caused as much disability as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and more than all cancers and HIV. Most mental disorders have onsets by age 14 to 24, although depression and anxiety disorders can have a period of 8 to 14 years between onset and diagnosis, which indicates a suggested window of screening for adolescents. Access for Americans to health care has increased due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, which also allows for those 26 and under to stay on their parents' health care plans.


This lack of emphasis on mental health in United States society carries over to other countries, as fitness centers and "health" food stores abound but mental health clinics do not. The precedence rests itself on appearance as though that will make on happy, but statistically that is not the case. Although in some areas such as Argentina, seeing a therapist is considered "chic", for the vast majority of the world this activity is viewed as less than socially acceptable, if even available. If the United States were to move mental health to the forefront of its priorities, other countries would follow suit and relationships between countries would undeniably improve. If there is no change, however, it will continue to worsen. Health and mental health are viewed as two separate entities in most places, but viewed holistically they can be understood better and by improving one the other aspects of health will get better as well.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neal-l-cohen-md/mental-health_b_2057553.html?utm_hp_ref=health-news&ir=Health%20News

Blog 9: Color Test

There is a new color test out there that could detect whether someone has low levels of a virus such as HIV and certain cancers. The color of a liquid test changes to give either a positive or negative result. Designers from Imperial College London say that the device could lead to more widespread testing for HIV and other diseases in parts of the world where other methods are unaffordable. The test can be configured to a unique signature of a disease or virus- such as a protein found on the surface of the HIV. Researchers say this allows the results to be detected with “the naked eye”. Early testing showed the presence of markers of HIV and prostate cancer could be detected. Researchers expect their design will cost 10 times less than current tests. According Dr. Roberto de la Rica “this test could be significantly cheaper to administer, which could pave the way for more widespread use of HIV testing in poorer parts of the world.”

With advancements of that sort, that will take us very far in the medical world. Not only will that help us out in countries that lack the medical attention it could help prevent so many more disease as well. Looking into the future when this truly becomes mass produced, and has been perfected to the max, it will truly bring hope to third worlds countries. These things are the baby steps into bigger steps that truly bring change into the world. With this recent discovery, they will be able to bring progress in other countries. Imagining 5 years how this could be distributed it will not only be able to diagnose diseases it will prevent, and we might be able to slowly stop it from spreading. Things like these will truly bring hope to the world.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20084303
Alexa Florencio-Picazo

Blog 9

Danielle Mason
10/25/12

In the article I read from BBC news, there are major concerns about the financing of drugs that prevent and treat Malaria. The Affordable Medicines Facility for Malaria or the AMFm has no hard evidence that their efforts are saving lies of the dying people. With this in thought, places like the UK are threatening to take away their funding for Malaria medicines that go out to other countries such as Ethiopia and Nigeria.  On the other hand, the AMFm says that a study shows that they are lowering drug prices for usually high priced good drugs. With over 200million people contracting malaria each year and 665 thousand dying as a result each year, the funding for these malaria prevention and treatment facilities is quite controversial. Oxfam believes that by keeping the AMFm active it is dangerous economically since the global budget will be investing so much money but not knowing if it is a worthwhile investment since there is no proof of the AMFm’s  outcomes. Additionally some western aid groups refuse approaches that have any involvement with private sectors. In reality, the programs getting the life saving treatments are supplying the people who need it most where they are already looking for treatment options.  In my opinion I believe the AMFm has to have at least some type of benefit to the treatment and prevention of malaria. I believe that it should continue to be funded regardless from where or who because the ultimate goal is to bring medicine to those around the world with restricted access and to save the lives of people who may die of something that is curable/treatable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20046199

blog 8

Danielle Mason

10/19/12

In the article I read from BBC.com, US researchers say that there is a small benefit to older men who take multivitamins on a regular basis. The benefit associated with the multivitamins is a lower risk of developing cancer. The same affect can’t be said for younger men or females who also take the same multivitamin. For older men certain vitamins are prescribed for different age groups, such as men over the age of 65 are encouraged to take Vitamin D pills because different age groups have different needs. Although these multivitamins may be good for some men, for others it may have the same affects as if they were taking a placebo pill. Many doctors are in doubt or against or in doubt of these studies though since the results seem to vary in different people for no apparent reason or take no affect at all. The doctors that are in doubt suggest a balanced diet filled with plenty of veggies and fresh fruits is the best bet for older men if they are hoping to protect themselves against cancer, the same is suggested for younger men and women. After reading this article it is obvious to me that more research on this topic is needed, but when thoroughly done I believe increasing protecting against cancer is possible. This discovery would obviously not be the cure to cancer, but I feel that it would bring the world one step closer. Cancer prevention tactics would be a great help to society since cancer is one of the leading killers in the world of innocent people.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19977164

Blog 7

Danielle Mason

Soc 202-03

10/12/12

In the article I read from BBC News a woman named Kaylee celebrates 25 healthy years since her heart transplant at the age of only a few months.  Kaylee was the first successful infant heart transplant in the UK. To this day Kaylee spends her time working as a sales associate and is a participant in world transplant games and raises awareness for the need of organ donors of all ages.  In the 25 years Kaylee has lived a healthy life with her new heart, 112 other babies in the UK have had successful heart transplants. As great as it is to hear babies surviving from heart transplants, in the UK 2 babies have died because of a shortage of donated organs and 6 have fell extremely ill. Kaylee and the doctors she has been working with are trying to stress the importance of people becoming themselves or allowing their loved ones to become organ donors to save lives. I myself am an organ donor and I don’t see why anybody would turn down the opportunity to give organs, blood, or anything at that matter to help save another human beings life, since they obviously won’t be using those parts once they die.  This article has a worldwide affect because people die all over the world because they aren’t able to obtain organs vital to life. I think that if the need for organ donors is stressed to the maximum maybe people around the world will start to see how they can help and understand that the need for organs is a increasing problem. I know that I wasn’t aware that hospitals were in need of more organs so I’m sure many others aren’t informed either. It is the job of the knowledgeable to spread the word for the cause and help the people that are in need of organs and may be in a life or death struggle without them.

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-19915904

blog 6

Danielle Mason

10/4/12

Soc 202-03

In the article I read Swedish researchers did a study that showed results that women ages of 70-92 who took an aspirin a day for 5 years between would show a slower decrease in cognitive ability that woman who did not. The researchers used an mini mental state exam to test the intellectual capacity of the women before and after the five year period to prove their theory. Although the deterioration of cognitive abilities did slow, taking aspirins daily has no effect on the development of dementia. Since aspirin is easily available the researchers discourage self prescribing aspirin to try and achieve effects as they did. One of the main reasons they discourage self prescription is because the long term effects of the aspirin routine are not known yet and they may outweigh the benefits of slower cognition loss.

I believe this is a wonderful discovery because who wouldn’t want their grandmother or mother to be around a while longer? I know I would. Also taking into account that the loss in cognition abilities does not only affect the United States but the entire world which is also how it is a global issue. I feel if research does allow us to sustain the cognitive abilities of our elders it would be a great advancement because the elders would be able to work longer and people would be able to live longer happier lives. Not that the lifespan of humans today is too short of a time, but if the almighty power allows us to find a solution to longer lives and better cognitive abilities than I think that’s great for the world and man kind.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19819065    

Blog 5

Danielle Mason

9/28/12 1:25pm

BBC NEWS Health- Epilepsy 'is a global health problem'

In the article I read the reporter talks about the global issue of epilepsy. Epilepsy is a condition in the brain where electrical currents are disturbed causing seizures or short periods of altered consciousness.  Researchers found that 85% of global epilepsy occurs in low and middle-income countries and 60% of the people with epilepsy will receive no treatment. One of the reasons this is, is because people in low to middle-income countries don’t know that with the right treatment epilepsy is a controllable disorder. Additionally, in some of the poorer places around the world facilities to diagnose, treat, and care for epileptic patients are nowhere to be found. Some countries have traditional beliefs about epilepsy and where it comes from which contribute to the reasons why epileptic patients don’t receive the treatment they need. Seeing this is such a big issue globally, global health services should take the steps to improve the situation and raise awareness for the treatment of this disorder.

Before I read this article I didn't realize how big of a problem epilepsy was around the world. I thought epilepsy was a condition that only a few out of every couple hundred people had. After reading this article I now realize that epilepsy is a huge problem worldwide that a significant number of people are suffering from. The issue of epilepsy is a global social problem because the number of people that struggle with epilepsy worldwide is huge, but the significantly lower number of people struggling with epilepsy that do not have facilities and/or the treatment for their condition is beyond belief. Epilepsy treatment awareness needs to be spread to help the many people struggling get the care they need.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19746452

Blog 5: Animals Suspected in Spread of New Virus

A new respiratory virus recognized by the British Health Protection agency has a close connection with a virus in bats; and possibly sheep, goats camels as well. Due to the similarity between the two viruses, it is considered that two victims of the virus from the Middle East contracted it from animals. This type of virus, also known as a coronavirus, is suspected to have infected the two victims through direct contact with animals, likely to be bats. The infections happened months apart, and the first victim died but the second is in critical but stable condition. The World Health Organization has issued a global alert asking doctors to be vigilant of any potential cases of this virus. The Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia is a potential opportunity for it to spread, and officials in that country have already notified pilgrims to cover theri faces in crowded places and maintain clean hands. Origins of the virus are still unknown, as is its future.
 The globalization of disease would definitely be accelerated if the virus is contracted by pilgrims on the Hajj pilgrimage, since pilgrims from around the globe arrive for it. Health isn't usually thought of as affecting religious and cultural traditions, but the point may be approaching where some traditions have to be let go of because they aren't safe anymore due to the risk of disease, as happens in this article. This begs the question of how the bats got the disease to begin with: human disease is(a majority of the time) correllated with diet, and the same may be true here. Bats feed on(among other things) pollen, which has been negatively affected by colony collapse disorder. Colony collapse disorder, in turn, has been instigated in part by cell phone radiation, genetically modified crops and other enrivonmental exhaustions. Therefore, globalization might very well be the essential cause of the coronavirus and the potential disruption of a centuries-old tradition: an especially ominous phenomenon.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/28/3024418/animals-suspected-in-spread-of.html

Blog 4

Danielle Mason
Swiss Rejects Smoking Ban
9/23/12 6:33

In the article I read from BBC News Switzerland rejected a full ban on smoking in public places. A majority of Switzerland’s 25 cantons voted for the ban at 70%, although Geneva was slightly in favor of the ban at 52%. Places like restaurants and hotels are allowed to have smoking rooms although people say that that may put the employee’s health at risk. The Swiss socialist party said that by protecting the non-smoking customers the employees would be protected as well. Larger cantons have out their own smoking bans in place in places of employment to decrease the health risks for its employees. Other public places like hotels were happy the outcome of the vote was a “no” because it would have made some of their investments pointless or unneeded. Also as reported by Dr. Jean-Charles Rielle, who was a member in the committee that proposed the ban, in the places where the ban on smoking rooms were put into play already there has been a 20% decrease in the number of people hospitalized with cardiovascular issues.

At first when reading this article I was against the idea of banning smoking/smoking rooms in public areas. I thought that by banning public smoking it was taking away someone’s right to smoke if they’re of age as long as they do it in the designated area. After reading the statistic from Dr. Jean-Charles Rielle my mind changed. If by banning smoking rooms alone decreased 20% of hospitalizations due to cardiovascular issues then maybe over time people will begin to smoke less since they won’t be able to smoke when and where they want. If smoking is restricted then maybe people won’t take the time to go elsewhere and smoke so they’ll just surpass the thought of it and move on to their next task. Cardiovascular diseases, which can be caused by smoking, are one of the leading causes of death in the world. So if we minimize the causes of cardiovascular disease we will inadvertently decrease the number of deaths caused by it and save millions of lives worldwide. Hopefully other countries will have this issue of public smoking and vote “yes” to banning public smoking.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19690450 -article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_causes_of_death_by_rate - add info

Blog 4: US Obesity Battle: What Can and Is Being Done

Obesity has long been problematic in the United States, but the breadth(no pun intended) of this dilemma manifests itself in a new study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The study predicts that obesity will affect the majority of Americans in thirty-nine states by the year 2030. Although obesity affects both industrialized and non-industrialized nations according to the World Health Organization, the United States is particularly vulnerable to this condition and its accompanying diseases due to the mass availability of easily prepared, low-quality food at affordable prices. This is especially tempting to Americans, many of whom have sedentary lifestyles and hectic schedules that correspond with the apparent need for this type of dietary practice. This has in turn given rise to the diet industry, whose critics claim thrives on the failures of its participants. Despite this predicament, lawyer and legal activist John Banzhaf maintains his stance against the current nutritional fiasco by instigating legal actions against fast food companies. Banzhaf expresses both the need for political courage and integrity to be directed toward the well-being of consumers and optimism for the reduction of obesity, given that the former occurs and increases.

 

Power held by the wrong individuals is a recurring circumstance throughout history, usually marked by the deaths of many innocent people at the hands of their ruler(s).  Yet this can occur in other, subtler ways that are much more difficult to recognize. The diet of the United States is largely influenced by advertisers, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Department of Agriculture. The diets of other countries, while still containing their own traditional nourishment, have caught on increasingly to the diet of the United States- especially in large cities where Americans tend to visit, resulting in its spreading into less populous areas as well. Therefore, those who make decisions on what and how foods are being hugely promoted in the United States possess influence extending beyond their own country. Rather than  local foods, these decisions-makers have promoted pre-made foods, the ingredients(or whole entities) of which may come from other countries. This globalization of food has fomented the production of processed foods that last much longer than food ever has before. Clothing and other products are required to have labels stating where they were made, but food is not. Perhaps these food corporations feel that by stating where a pre-made food comes from, it will detract from its value. However, much produce will blatantly state where it is from, no matter how far away. Therefore, there must be a stigma around those foods that were assembled in another country, as opposed to simply being detached from the earth and transported. Stating where a processed food is from, if distant, would possibly in the eyes of the consumer make the food akin to eating a toy or piece of clothing, if not a bizarre refined amalgamation made by unknown hands(or machinery). Food manufacturing companies undoubtedly know this, and for that reason elect to perpetuate the ignorance that has clouded American plates since the rise of food's globalization, leading to a ballooning obesity epidemic that affects the United States and is spreading across the world.

http://blogs.aljazeera.com/blog/americas/us-obesity-battle-what-can-and-being-done

Blog 3: UN health agency says Ebola toll at 31 in Congo

The incurable Ebola virus has spread throughout the northeastern part of Congo, increasing the death toll by twofold to 31 over the past week. The World Health Organization states that the first known infected person was a health worker, a peculiarity in instances such as these(if it really is the first infected person). The disease is characterized by severe internal bleeding and is contagious, to the dismay of local cultural practices. Normal Congolian funerals include the body being displayed to onlookers in the days preceding burial- a custom that works to their severe disadvantage at this point, since it exposes them to the disease. Efforts to improve public education about the consequences of this practice have been expended by the WHO, Doctors Without Borders and Congo's health ministry. Two quarantine centers are also being supervised. This is Congo's ninth Ebola epidemic.
Congolians don't have nearly the same access to information as more Westernized nations, which can explain why after eight epidemics they are still adhering to traditional burial practices for Ebola victims. Therefore, their lack of development is a direct contributor to this epidemic, as it is in many nations. Other countries likely have similar burial practices, and so will need to be educated on this in case an epidemic occurs. Disease also increases poverty as families have to struggle to pay medical bills, which can also place a burden on their mental health. This prevalence of disease in the developing world is a debilitating factor for economy as well, due to health care expenses.



http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/14/3002079/un-health-agency-says-ebola-toll.html

Blog 3

Danielle Mason 

9/14/12

4:59pm 

In the article of child health care accelerating and death rates decreasing, the article shows many different statistics and why this problem is now being handles much more aggressively. In 1990, 12 million children died before their 5^th birthday. Compared with 2011, only 6.9 million children passed. Statistics shown in the article, we are allowed to see that child mortality has fallen in the last 2 decades in all parts of the world. They’ve all fallen by at least 50% and this is a shocking number, let alone that this is the global number applied to many different parts of our world. Rates are jumping in the reduction of under-five mortalities. Although this is great, studies showed that 40% of child deaths in the first month of life were very much preventable. According to the Millennium Development goal 4 of reducing this mortality rate by an even more staggering percentage by 2015, only 6 out of 10 regions are showing they may reach the goal. Committing to Child Survival: A Promise Renewed, has dedicated their company to child survival since 1990. In the4 article Sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia face the greatest challenges in children surviving and count for the 80% of under-five deaths. They continue to show the causes of these young deaths as many of them are diseases or preterm complications. There is now a call for systematic actions to reduce these alarming numbers even more. It is very feasible for communities to have these interventions. This pertains to our society as a very important issue. As we all know in the saying, children are the future, it is very true. High mortality rates of young children are only hurting our future because who knows what these children could grow up to be and they certainly keep the world going. Emotionally and economically, it is a social norm to have children and educate them to take our own places in the business world and continue to raise the bar financially. High mortality rates certainly cause a rift in the world and is an important issue that needs a lot of support if we even want the chance of having a great grandchildren, and being proud of them.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2012/child_survival_20120913/en/index.html

Blog 2 - Neurodegenerative Diseases

According to researchers at Boston University there have been recent health issues related to football injuries.  These studies claim that football players are more likely to get neurodegenerative diseases, than any other sport do to the amount of body contact.  These NFL players are more likely to get Alzheimer’s and ALS than the general population.  Of these NFL players the quarter back and the running back are three times more likely to have this disease since they are considered to be the main target for the defensive players.  Scientists had decided to view the neurological outcome of 334 football players by taking autopsies.  Of these players the Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS had a big contribution to them.  Seven of the players had died from Alzheimer’s, seven died from ALS and three died from Parkinson’s.  As well the average age these player’s died was 57.  These numbers may seem small but the fact that 17 of these players have all experienced these uncommon diseases is a lead.  Now many football players are trying to sue the NFL for not warning them about all the injuries and risks that came along with playing this sport.  Signing up for the sport they should know all the risks of what can happen, it is a contact sport and they decided to follow through with this.  Studies have also been done that due to the amount of concussions in football it can then be linked to a neurodegenerative disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This disease can only be diagnosed after death and has similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s disease.  These symptoms can include memory loss, mood swings and depression.  The league wants to donate $30 million to a health institute to provide more research on brain trauma and how it can potentially lead to CTE and early life Alzheimer’s. 

            What people don’t realize is that playing a professional sport does involve contact and injuries.  These athletes need to be mentally and physically fit in order to play these sports.  Some of these players will get injuries but they need to be well aware of how physical the sport is before they get involved.  Most professional teams from NFL to NHL have contact, but the reason the NFL is more prone to head injuries is due to the amount of contact and tackling the sport has.  Hockey has hitting, but they do not tackle the other players to the ice they just hit them into the boards.  Therefore that is why football is the sport with the leading cases of neurodegenerative diseases.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/health/nfl-neurodegenerative-disease/index.html?hpt=he_c2